The Best Hotel or Resort in Every State

Whether you're into luxe dude ranches with plenty of Western-style comforts, or down-home resorts where you can swing your feet over the dock, there's no shortage of ways to spend a night in this big and beautiful country. These are the number one places to stay in every state—hotels and resorts, alike—as voted by you in our annual Readers' Choice Awards survey.

Alabama: Grand Hotel Marriott Resort Golf Club & Spa, Point Clear

Alaska: Alyeska Resort, Girdwood

It's a wild world out there. Good thing you can see it all from Alyeska Resort's soaring aerial tram, which rises 2,300 feet above sea level. Once you get to the top, marvel at the mountain views for an hour or two while you tuck into a steak at the way-up-there Seven Glaciers restaurant.

Courtesy Tanque Verde Ranch

Arizona: Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson

Sixty-thousand acres are probably enough to get your mountain adventure on at this premier Dude Ranch. Scope out views of the desert or mountains from an elegant casita-style room, or book facing the inner courtyard's bubbling fountain.

Courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

Arkansas: 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville

The sleek white halls at 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville cast the perfect backdrop for the hotel brand's trademark collection of 21st-century art. Readers love the refined country cooking at the Hive, whipped up by James Beard Semifinalist Nominee and Arkansas native Matthew McClure.

Photo by David Lauridsen

California: L'Horizon Resort & Spa, Palm Springs

L'Horizon Resort & Spa's epically glam pool scene will have you feeling like a showbiz veteran in no time. Look out for the little touches, like personalized door plaques on guests' rooms.

Courtesy Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa

Colorado: Gateway Canyons Resort

Situated on 500 red rock-rimmed acres of land in the Unaweep Canyon, near the Utah border, the chameleon-like Gateway Canyons Resort offers western pursuits like horseback riding and skeet shooting (plus heavenly spa services).

Connecticut: Winvian Farm, Morris

In addition to 18 custom-designed kid-friendly cottages and one suite—like the 'Camping' cottage, where stars illuminate the ceiling and marshmallows are set out for roasting in the fireplace—the charming Winvian Farm also offers more adult indulgences, like the stellar cuisine of chef Chris Eddy, who has worked with Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse, plus a well-stocked wine cellar.

Delaware: Hotel du Pont, Wilmington

You'll get a heady dose of old school glamour at Wilmington's Hotel du Pont, housed in a 12-story Italian Renaissance building from 1913. Ascend the grand double staircase to take a long soak in your oversized bathroom, then drop in for a pre-Opera dinner at the oak-paneled Green Room.

Courtesy Gasparilla Inn & Club

Florida: The Gasparilla Inn & Club, Boca Grande

The Gasparilla Inn & Club, 30 miles south of Sarasota, offers pretty much every amenity you could dream of, from a private championship golf course, beach club, spa, tennis court, and fitness center, to croquet lawns, a marina, a formal restaurant, and a casual bakery. We don't see any reason to leave—do you?

Courtesy Lodge on Little St. Simons Island

Georgia: The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island

The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island, which floats on 11,000 acres of nature reserve between Savannah and Jacksonville, is so exclusive (and secluded) that you need a reservation just to climb ashore. Book all 16 accommodations for the perfect family reunion.

Courtesy Hyatt

Hawaii: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Go whale-watching in the morning, and sip a Wailea Spritz (a concoction of lillet rosé, gin, grapefruit, and sparkling wine) at the Bumbye Beach Bar by sunset—anything can be added to the agenda at Andaz Maui.

Courtesy Shore Lodge

Idaho: Shore Lodge, McCall

This 77-suite lodge is an upscale naturalist’s dream, situated right on glacier-fed Lake Payette, a protected state park. The Salmon River Mountains envelope the horizon, and the resort has an impressive array of biking paths, hiking trails and even a few hot springs at your disposal.

Courtesy Virgin Hotels/Photo by Anthony Tahlier

Illinois: Virgin Hotels Chicago

Rated our number one hotel in the United States during last year's Readers' Choice Awards, Virgin Hotels Chicago continues to cling to its good reputation with amenities like free Wi-Fi, mini-bars stocked with street-level-priced goods, and no fees for late or early check-out or room service. Talking about setting the bar high.

Courtesy Marriott

Indiana: JW Marriott Indianapolis

Located in central downtown, close to White River State Park, Military Park, and the wildly underrated Eiteljorg Museum, the JW Marriott Indianapolis is the perfect basecamp if you're exploring Indy for the first time. The presidential suite has ergonomic desks and chairs (perfect for a working vacation) and brown leather details that give a cozy feel, plus floor-to-ceiling windows with unparalleled, unobstructed views of the city.

Courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts/Photo by Alise O'Brien

Iowa: Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection, Davenport

The recently-renovated circa 1915 Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport manages to nail that often elusive balance between historic and sleek, modern and charming. Rooms are spacious, with graphic duvets and off-white tufted headboards, while some have whirlpools and balconies. It's no wonder Presidents Barack Obama and Herbert Hoover chose to catch up on those hard-earned zzz's here.

Courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Kansas: Ambassador Hotel Wichita, Autograph Collection

For business travelers, the Ambassador Hotel Wichita is the only way to go (and not just because of the complimentary WiFi). Plush purple armchairs and art deco wall sconces offer an optimal place to work remotely, while corner King rooms are fit for royalty.

Courtesy The Brown Hotel

Kentucky: The Brown Hotel, Louisville

The intricately painted, coffered ceilings of the lobby at The Brown Hotel will have you wondering if you've suddenly come into some serious family money. Sadly, that's probably not the case—but at least you get to spend the night inside these hallowed halls.

Courtesy Hotel Maison de Ville

Louisiana: Hotel Maison de Ville, New Orleans

Every hotel in New Orleans lays a claim to history, but Hotel Maison de Ville stands out for being the onetime home of Antoine Peychaud, creator of Peychaud's bitters (a crucial ingredient in the city's unofficial cocktail, the Sazerac) as well as playwright Tennessee Williams, whose namesake suite features exposed brick, sumptuous drapes, and a small balcony that leads out to the hotel's lush courtyard.

Courtesy Hidden Pond/Photo by Adam Policky

Maine: Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport

Sitting on 60 acres about five miles outside of preppy Kennebunkport, Hidden Pond has a fantasy summer camp feel, with hand-painted wooden signs pointing to a garden where you can pick vegetables or to a bike shed where you can borrow a retro cruiser for a sunrise ride to Goose Rocks Beach. Though if you're not a morning person, don't worry: Every morning, hot coffee and a canvas bag of fresh-baked pastries are left outside your door.

Courtesy Belmond

Maryland: Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond

Located in a Victorian resort town on the Delmarva Peninsula’s Miles River, the nautically themed Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond was inspired by the Commodore’s cabin on the U.S.S. Niagara. In newly-renovated, elegant guest rooms, fires and lamplight illuminate upholstered sleigh beds or traditional turned-wood New England bedsteads. For light snacks and a game of backgammon, try Purser’s Pub, and be sure to order the famous Chesapeake Retriever cocktail.

Courtesy XV Beacon

Massachusetts: XV Beacon, Boston

The chic, intimate modernist interiors of XV Beacon prove a nice contrast with the exterior—a turn-of-the-century, ten-story Beaux Arts building of iron, limestone, and brick, capped with a copper cornice. The lobby has an original cage elevator, while individually designed rooms come with fireplaces, mahogany built-in cupboards, and contemporary canopied beds. Take advantage of the fleet of chauffeured Lexus limos for complimentary trips around downtown Boston.

Michigan: Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island

The sprawling Mission Point Resort, located on Michigan's Mackinac Island, offers you the option to do as little—or as much—as you please. Kick back on an Adirondack chair on the shores of Lake Huron, or challenge the kids to a rousing game of tennis or bocce.

Photo by Peter Wong

Minnesota: Madden's on Gull Lake, Brainerd

Located on the Gull Lake shoreline two hours from the Twin Cities, Madden’s golf courses, gardens, and water activities are a draw for family vacationers. With four golf courses, five swimming pools, three beaches and a lakeside spa, there’s plenty of sports and water activities for the whole gang—and nary an argument in sight (we hope).

Mississippi: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi

Look twice: You might confuse the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi's pool scene with that of its Las Vegas counterparts. Book a fresh, fun room with a Gulf view, then hit the slots for an hour or two.

Courtesy Big Cedar Lodge/Photo by Edward C. Robison III

Missouri: Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale

Deep in the Ozarks, this lodge on more than 4,600 acres overlooking Table Rock Lake is the best of both worlds: It has the feel of a wilderness retreat, with Adirondack-style buildings aplenty, but with the modern amenities and dining you usually get at a big-city hotel. Swing by Devil's Pool Restaurant, where you can grab a seat at the 100-year-old mahogany bar and chow down on a hickory-smoked prime rib.

Courtesy Triple Creek Ranch

Montana: Triple Creek Ranch, Darby

Looking out onto the Bitterroot Mountains, rooms at Triple Creek are spread across 25 rustic log cabins decked out with exposed log walls and slate bathrooms. For optimal relaxation, snag a room with a hot tub on the deck.

Courtesy Magnolia Hotels

Nebraska: Magnolia Hotel Omaha

When in Omaha, there's no better place to book than the Magnolia Hotel, according to our readers. Enjoy the summer breeze in the sweet inner courtyard, all strung up with lights, and make yourself at home in ones of the well-designed (think bright pops of color, high ceilings, and high-end kitchens) suites.

Courtesy Wynn Resorts

Nevada: Wynn Las Vegas and Encore

Casino-resort Wynn Las Vegas and Encore has a list of prestigious awards (Michelin, Forbes, Mobil, AAA) as long as the Strip itself. Sit down for a bite at any of the nine on-site fine dining restaurants, watch aquatic acrobatic spectacle Le Rêve—The Dream and then retire to an upscale suite in the Tower Suites or Resort Tower. And that’s only scratching the pearl-inlaid marble surface.

Courtesy Starwood Hotels & Resorts

New Hampshire: Wentworth by the Sea, New Castle

Old-world luxury abounds at Wentworth by the Sea, a grand, nineteenth-century estate on the Atlantic—the coastal retreat has a red mansard roof and three towers, and looks out on granite outcroppings. And if you're really interested in feeling like you've gone back in time, you're in luck: Interiors brandished with such details as traditional damasks, intricate woodwork, brass accents, and pinstriped wallpaper will make you feel like you've wound back the clock.

Courtesy Congress Hall

New Jersey: Congress Hall, Cape May

The hotel has great, 19th-century bones (just look at that colonnade!) and sits across the street from one of the nicest beaches in the state.

Courtesy Relais & Chateaux

New Mexico: Inn of the Five Graces, Santa Fe

New York: Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa, Lake Placid

Built in 1883 as a private home, this Adirondack Mountain resort sits on the shores of Mirror Lake, one block from Main Street and close to the Olympic Center. Rooms have mahogany walls, vaulted ceilings, polished walnut floors, and private balconies with tranquil water views.

Courtesy Sanderling Resort

North Carolina: Sanderling Resort, Duck

Looking to kick your feet up for a few days? Check out the Sanderling, on North Carolina's Outer Banks. The newly-renovated spa, beach chic-décor, and water view rooms are enough to lure you back year after year.

Courtesy Rough Riders Hotel

North Dakota: Rough Riders Hotel, Medora

If you need a little wild, wild west with your vacation, opt for North Dakota's Rough Riders Hotel, housed in a 19th-century building that'll have you wondering where the nearest saloon is. Speaking of which, check out the Cowboy Hall of Fame, just one block over from the hotel.

Courtesy 21c Museum Hotels

Ohio: 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati

A 1924 landmark-turned-art-hotel in downtown Cincinnati, next to the Contemporary Arts Center and across the street from the Aronoff Center for the Arts, this fresh-faced 21c Museum Hotel offers quirky surprises around every corner—would you look at those penguins?

Courtesy Hilton Hotels & Resorts/Photo by Jeremy Charles

Oklahoma: Skirvin Hilton, Oklahoma City

This 225-room and suite beauty has a long and storied history. First opened in 1911 by real estate developer and oil tycoon William Balser "Bill" Skirvin, the hotel known as the Skirvin Hilton—which, throughout its history, has played host to such famous figures as Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra—underwent a $50 million dollar reno, reopening in 2007. See what makes this grand dame continue to shine over at the Park Avenue Grill, which still contains traces of Art Deco craftsmanship (think hand-laid tile floors), or at the Red Piano lounge, where you can tap your toes along to live music every Tuesday through Saturday.

Courtesy Provenance Hotels

Oregon: Sentinel, Portland

This shining example of Italian Renaissance-style architecture, replete with Corinthian columns, formally opened its doors as the Governor Hotel in 1992. The glazed terra-cotta property is a fusion of two historic downtown Portland buildings: its current name is a nod to the guardian angel-like sentinels that grace the roofline.

Courtesy The Lodge at Woodloch

Pennsylvania: The Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley

Ninety miles from New York City, this 2006 property with more than 500 wooded acres and a private lake in northeast Pennsylvania is a quiet and serene resort, and perfect weekend getaway for city folk. Excursions include fly-fishing and trail biking trips, though some prefer to stay on-site for a river stone massage at the spa.

Courtesy Ocean House/Photo by Chip Riegel

Rhode Island: Ocean House, Westerly

It's easy to turn back time at the Ocean House. Propped up on a magnificent bluff overlooking Little Narragansett Bay in Westerly's historic Watch Hill neighborhood, the rambling, sunshine yellow Victorian structure recalls the days of the Grand Tour, when the wealthy would gallivant around the world, and be lured from the city to the sea come summer.

South Carolina: Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort

Designed in the style of a 1940s fishing lodge, this Disney outpost in the central region of Hilton Head Island removes the kitsch but amps up the family-friendly. You won’t find the soft footsteps of Mickey and Minnie running all over the place; here the more traditional s’mores and campfires are the draw.

Courtesy Hilton

South Dakota: Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City

Set in the heart of downtown Rapid City, the circa-1927 Hotel Alex Johnson will take you as close to the action as you can get. When you're not off exploring Mount Rushmore, a 25-minute drive away, you can enjoy the old-school ambiance of the space, which is outfitted with Native American art and artwork. In the lobby, make sure to look out for the ‘four sacred directions’ symbols, a tribute to the area’s Native American culture and beliefs.

Courtesy Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Tennessee: River Inn of Harbor Town, Memphis

This boutique hotel in the city's Harbor Town district is a short drive from Graceland, Beale Street, and other local attractions. Most rooms have beautiful views of the Mississippi River and there’s a terrace where visitors can watch the sunset and see the downtown Memphis skyline.

Courtesy Hotel Emma

Texas: Hotel Emma, San Antonio

Move over Alamo: There’s a new reason to visit San Antonio. The Hotel Emma, housed in a 1894 clock tower that anchors the city’s once derelict Pearl Brewery, is a piece of city history, masterfully preserved. New York-based interior designers Roman and Williams not only restored the building’s industrial bones—a bottle capper is now a glowing chandelier; the hip Larder market is housed in the former cellar—they also managed to create intimate spaces within the building’s sprawling public areas.

Courtesy Preferred Hotels & Resorts/Photo by Bettie Grace Miner

Utah: Montage Deer Valley

You can't beat the ease of the Montage. The staff in the pro shop are so on point (especially with children), skis are ready by the time you get downstairs, and Deer Valley Mountain has an office right in the hotel, so ski school is a breeze.

Courtesy Twin Farms

Vermont: Twin Farms, Barnard

Though each room is custom-decorated at this intimate hotel, we like the two-suite Lodge for its quaint, chic style, and the pale blue Hillside suite, where English chintz fabrics cover a tulip-post bed and an American Zodiak hand-hooked rug stretches from wall to wall. At dinner, which is preceded by a Champagne-and-caviar hour, choose a vintage from their five-star wine cellar (or have the sommelier do it for you)—but be forewarned that there’s no menu, since Chef Nathan Rich changes his elegant offerings each evening.

Courtesy Preferred Hotels & Resorts/Photo by Casey Templeton

Virginia: Tides Inn, Irvington

This is the kind of place generations of folks from the D.C. and Richmond areas have been going to for years, so expect to run into families whose parents were married here. While it operated as a farm until 1946, the 106-room Tides Inn has changed hands a few times to its present owners, the Enchantment Group, but without compromising its classic Chesapeake-style identity.

Courtesy Provenance Hotels

Washington: Hotel Max, Seattle

Straddling hip Belltown (look out for plenty of artful coffee shops) and the well established Pike Place Market, this Beaux Arts design beacon trades in fine art—and fine-tuned service. Warhol’s conspicuous Campbell’s Soup Can I - Vegetable hangs in the lobby, kept company by a stacked drum sculpture by Ivan Navarro, and a hazy, black-and-white rooster print by Ed Ruscha.

West Virginia: The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs

Set on 11,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains, this resort was founded in 1778 as a cottage community but today offers falconry, kayaking, golf, and a casino. Its charm and elegance includes Dorothy Draper–style interiors with neo-Baroque furniture. Gorgeous eye-candy rooms are extremely well appointed with antiques, floral fabrics, and black-and-white marble floors.

Courtesy Canoe Bay/Photo by Steve Niedorf

Wisconsin: Canoe Bay, Chetek

You might not immediately think ‘Wisconsin’ when you envision your dream couples escape—but you would if you knew about Canoe Bay. This is a place where you can comfortably heed the call of the wild, where warm, well-tended cottages come equipped with king beds, stone fireplaces, and a two-person whirlpool tub, and complimentary breakfast is brought to your bedside each morning—not too shabby, when you consider that you’re in the middle of a forest.

Courtesy The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch

Wyoming: The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Saratoga

Set on 30,000 acres amid the unspoiled Sierra Madre range, this western resort executes the luxury dude ranch concept with impeccable skill: think spotted cowhide chairs in the lounge, fur throws at the edge of knotty wooden king-sized beds, and yurts decked out with antler chandeliers and chocolate leather couches. Guest rooms range from well-appointed spaces in the main Trailhead Lodge to elegant cabin suites, and large, super-secluded cabin rentals, each with décor hewn from the homestead—broad linen headboards pinched by buffalo nickels, soft suede pillows, and blankets patterned with vibrant, geometric designs.